<p>I want to get my masters in architecture after I get my bachelors. I want to go to the university of Oregon, if that is helpful information. Anyways, I am trying to decide on my bachelors degree. I want something that is different to make me more employable, but also useful for architecture. I am deciding between computer science and physiology. I am interested in both and want to major/minor in them, just not sure which order. I figure that computer science might be more helpful?</p>
<p>I’m also interested in urban planning too.</p>
<p>My undergrad is in Civil Engineering with a ‘minor’ (6 studio arch classes built into the CivEng program) in Architecture and I also have undergrad and grad degrees in Computer Science plus a graduate degree in Human Factors Engineering. DD1 is studying Architecture, so I have an idea or two on the subject.</p>
<p>You need to clarify ‘employable’ as an architect with an M.Arch, or ‘employable’ as a Computer Science person who also happens to have an M.Arch. I do not believe there’s much middle ground unless you end up working for AutoDesk or similar. While there are many similarities in the thought processes used in designing buildings and writing software, there are very few similarities in the skill sets involved. </p>
<p>If you like ‘design’ and are a visual person, I would seriously consider an undergraduate degree in Computer Graphics or similar, or, from my own experience, Human Factors Engineering (aka how to design stuff so that it’s easy to use). HFE at the right school is a witch’s brew of graphic design, computer science, experimental psychology, and industrial engineering. It is a tremendously entertaining field and provides some nice insights into how some designs are good and how some are not so good, whether we’re talking buildings or iPods. We even have a class or two in physiology to help us understand how people perceive things and so on…</p>
<p>Well I go to the university of Arizona right now and we don’t have that human factor engineering major. I mean employable as in having many different skills and qualifications to give me the most options for employment. Whereas having a degree in design and then architecture doesn’t give you qualification for anything other than designing, computer science would open up another door. I guess I should mention that my dream job is to design airports. I love airports. But I understand architecture is hard to get jobs in sometimes, so I want other back up plans I guess.</p>
<p>*ideally I’ll have a good variety of classes. I didn’t like engineering because it was all Physics and math. I am decent at math but I like variety. I was thinking majoring in computer science and minoring in physiology maybe?</p>
<p><em>bump</em> but with a different question: what would be the best way to go about becoming an airport designer? I have wanted forever to be able to design airports and I think that ultimately I need to shoot for my dreams. I can worry about a backup plan later but I think I should focus on what I really could see myself doing.</p>
<p>Drew, architecture is for the most part a general education in undergraduate, with some options for specialization in graduate school. However most of the specialized programs are in healthcare design. I have never seen one in airport design.</p>
<p>So if my passion was to design airports I would do some research on airport design firms. Many of these are going to be large multi-ofice firms such as Gensler, so you need to figure out which of the offices specializes in airports. Figure out where these firms are located, and then perhaps contact them and find out what schools they recruit from, do they do summer internships, etc. This is very specialized work, so you need to contact one of the airport designers/managers. Then go to that school and keep in touch with the firm.</p>
<p>Or you could get into a great school like Cornell or Rice, do outstanding work, and with your impressive portfolio show up at one of these firms and tell them you want to design airports.</p>
<p>In Dallas Corgan has a significant group that specializes in airport work. You should know that for every sexy terminal they design, they design 50 maintenance hangers/security upgrades/admirals lounge/ interior renovations/etc. They are a full service firm. Working for a firm like that you would definitely get to know airports.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Thank you thank you, that helps a lot. I have a passion for airports and have even considered being a baggage handler before just so I could be at the airport. So designing maintenance hanger etc still sounds good to me. I will look more into architects who specialize in it and see where it takes me. As for the undergrad major (since I am going to do architecture as a masters), do you think the major I choose for undergrad is irrelevant?</p>